Samsung Takes Its Flagship Smartphone Into a New Galaxy

But it’s usually Apple, not Samsung, that gets this kind of attention.

That the Galaxy S IV launch is commanding this sort of spotlight is a testament to just how much Samsung has grown its smartphone standing in just the couple of years since the first crop of Galaxy S devices. While the iPhone is still the product most talked about in the industry, the Galaxy S has become not only the best-selling Android model and the most common reference point for those talking about the operating system.

A lot is known about the phone and its features, thanks to the usual array of leaks. But there’s still a big unveil to be done as well as time to ruminate on what Samsung is showing.

Lauren Goode is on the scene at Radio City Music Hall and Ina Fried is back in San Francisco to take in the Webcast and offer additional commentary. The doors don’t open for a while yet but check back for intermittent updates and then live coverage once things do really get going.

3:14 pm: As mentioned, Samsung’s rivals have been busy trying to make sure their message gets heard. LG took out this Times Square billboard playing off Samsung’s use of the number 4.

Meanwhile, Apple gave interviews and HTC is outside Radio City Music Hall showing their new HTC One flagship device to those arriving early for Samsung’s event.

3:18 pm: As we noted in our story this morning, all eyes will be on the hardware, but what’s most important is how relevant, useful and well-executed are the new Galaxy’s software features.

3:20 pm: Lauren Goode has checked in with her frozen fingers barely able to type. It looks like the line is split at least three ways — consumers, broadcast media and other media — with all lines wrapping around the block. There’s a fair bit of chaos to go along with the frostbite.

It’s about 69 degrees here at my keyboard in San Francisco. Of course, it’s only fair. When Lauren and I teamed up at CES a few years back for our infamous Footballmer blog, she got the BCS championship game in 3-D and I got Steve Ballmer.

3:36 pm: A few more frozen fingers, but not much new to report. Stay tuned.

3:44 pm: Meanwhile, it looks like I have company in choosing to watch the event from afar.

More than 120,000 people are tuned into the YouTube Webcast and there’s nothing happening yet.

3:46 pm: “Ladies and gentleman, the show will begin in 15 minutes,” or so says the voice on the Webcast.

3:47 pm: Gotta love this tweet from fauxTimCook.

3:54 pm: For those who want to capture every minute of things, the YouTube Webcast is here, but we’ll make sure you get all the details, some analysis and have some fun along the way.

3:55 pm: Five minute warning. Which reminds me, time to grab a snack. I ate all the ice cream sandwiches and my key lime pie hasn’t arrived. Guess I’ll have some jelly beans.

4:05 pm: And now we wait. We’re now told the show will begin in a few minutes.

4:11 pm: Things kick off with a video of their bow-tie clad kid carrying the box to the “unpacked” event.

First Rockette joke of the night. Do a shot, everyone.

Jeremy is the kid’s name. He’s on stage with Will Chase.

Chase offers the kid a candy bar to see what’s in the box. No dice.

(There are 365,000 people watching the YouTube stream, btw.)

4:14 pm: Cue Samsung’s JK Shin.

“In the past several weeks we have heard an amazing combination of rumor and speculation about what I am going to unveil tonight,” Shin said, before launching into a talk on Samsung’s commitment to innovation.

Onstage, Samsung is talking about Knox, the business software it introduced at last month’s Mobile World Congress. A key feature of Knox is the container approach that separates work and personal information.

The Galaxy S4 is the first device to feature Knox.

7:48 pm: Now we’re in Miami, Ina. I’ll take it. I could use some sun.

Yes Lauren, but when this schtick is over you will still be in frigid NY and I’ll still be in San Francisco.

7:49 pm: Still waiting for the powerful-businesswoman use-case for this phone, Ina. #LeanIn, Samsung.

The Miami scene is to show off the “Group Play” feature.

Don’t know about that, but I should note there are now 412,000 people tuned into this.

It’s a good thing it is a tech product launch, because I think if it were a Broadway show it would only run for one night.

4:53 pm: An “Air Gesture” feature lets you scroll though photos or Web pages without touching the phone itself. A wave of the hand can also answer a phone.

When you look away from the phone, the “smart pause” feature puts a video on hold. (LG pre-announced a similar feature for its Optimus G earlier this week.)

4:54 pm: Some attachments can make the phone a useful health monitoring tool to measure weight, heart rate and other information.

7:55 pm: It’s official, Ina, according to this skit: Females are vapid consumers that think S Health can replace marrying a doctor.

4:56 pm: As the event is wrapping up, we just got a note from Samsung’s mSpot music unit noting it is expanding its Silicon Valley presence with new digs in Palo Alto and plans to hire more workers.

mSpot became part of Samsung in May 2012.

4:58 pm: Things are winding down onstage. Here’s the advantage for Lauren and the folks that braved the cold — they get some hands-on time with the new phone.

All us remote folks can do is watch the YouTube numbers drop (383,000 and falling).

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